Women accused of purse thefts in Gloversville

July 9, 2013

GLOVERSVILLE - Two women were arrested over the weekend by city police in unrelated cases of purse thefts, police reported.

Lisa M. (Nicolella) Stevens, 30, of Verkleir Lane, Mayfield, was arrested Saturday and charged with second-degree robbery, a felony, two felony counts of criminal possession of stolen property, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree assault.

Police said Stevens was arrested after an investigation into a report of a robbery that occurred in the Price Chopper parking lot at 358 N. Main St.

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Stevens

Williams

Police found she forcibly grabbed and stole a purse from a woman late Friday night, injuring the victim by pulling her to the ground, police said. According to the news release, she left the scene driving her red Chevy Aveo, with her 19-month-old son in the vehicle.

Further investigation indicated Stevens may have been involved in another theft of a purse outside the city hours later, police said.

Authorities said Stevens returned to Price Chopper and purchased a $100 gift card using a stolen credit card. Patrols later found her in the Nathan Littauer Hospital parking lot in possession of a controlled substance, with her child asleep in the back seat of the car.

During the investigation, police said, it was learned that before the theft, early Friday morning, Stevens offered a ride home to a different woman from Price Chopper, and while that woman was unloading her groceries, she drove away with the woman's purse in her vehicle.

In an unrelated incident that also involved stealing a purse, Natalie L. Williams, 26, of 12 Sixth Ave., was arrested by city police Sunday and charged with second-degree burglary and third-degree robbery, both felonies, and second-degree harassment.

Police said Williams was arrested after an investigation into a domestic-violence incident Saturday in which officers found she entered another woman's residence without permission and then forcibly attempted to pull a purse from a woman's hands.

Williams also allegedly shoved the victim during the altercation before running from the house, police said.

Both Stevens and Williams were arraigned before City Court Judge Traci DiMezza and sent to the Fulton County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.